Device for continuously vacuumizing containers



Nov. l, 1938. J. W. UREN 2,135,059 DEVICE FOR CONTINOUSLY VACUUVIIZING CONTAINERS Filed April 1e, 1955 5 sheets-sheet 1 I /3' 96057 55 my' Z Nov. 1, 1938. .1. W. UREN 2,135,059

DEVICE FORv CONTINUOUSLY VACUUMIZING CONTAINERS 4 INVENTOR i ATTORNEY NOV. 1, 1938. J, W. UREN I 2,135,059

DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUSLY VACUUMIZING CONTAINERS Filed April 16, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 1, 1938 DEVICE FoncoN'riNUoUsLY vAcUUMlzING CONTAINERS Joseph W. Uren, Seattle, Wash., assigner to Crescent Manufacturing Co., Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application April 16, 1935, Serial No. 16,635

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for continuously vacuumizing containers. More particularly, this invention relates to a device for continuously vacuumizing jars containing a food product, as freshly ground and roasted coffee, and sealing such jars while vacuumized. Y

1n the art of preserving freshly ground and roasted coffee, it hasbeen generally recognized that the ne qualities of freshly ground and roasted coffee may be preserved for a longer period of time if the said coffee is vacuum packed. Heretofore the containers used generally constituted tin containers and the devices available for vacuumizing were capable only of operation on such containers.

The advisability of packing freshly ground and roasted coffee in tin containers has been severely questioned and many manufacturers are now packing such colfee inV glass jars of a type `having a releasable lid and rubber seal means between the jar and the lid. Many benets inhere in the use of such glass jar containers, such as (1) the glass of the container is free of contaminating substances or odors, (2) the jars may be reused for home packing fruit and the like, (3) glass jars permit greater vacuumthan-the ordinary tin containers.

Such use of new containers has resulted in a demand for a device for vacuumizing glass jars in which ground coffee is packed. However, the only vacuumizing devices available on the market for use on glass jarsl are of a type known as batch treatment devices. As distinguished from such batch treatment devices, my device is of a continuously operating type in which the jars packed with coffee are continuously fed into the machine, vacuumized, sealed anddelivered from the machine ata minimum cost and in a minimum period of time.

It is a particular object of my invention to provide for the gradual Vacuumizng of the jar containing coffee so that none of the colfee in the jar will be drawn out as the pressurefwithin the jar is reduced.

It is a further particular object of my invention to provide for a sudden' increase of pressure on the jar cap, after the jar has been vacuumized, so that this pressure urges the cap against the rubber sealing means between the cap and the jar and leakage between the jar and the cap is prevented, even though the ycap is not precisely made.

Another object of my inventioni to provide a leak-proof connection between a vacuum chamber and the top portion of a glass jar container.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means to deliver jars filled with coffeel from a traveling belt into a vacuumizing device and to deliver, from the vacuumizing device to a traveling belt, jars which have been vacuumized and sealed. Y

Another object of my invention is to provide a rapid, efficient, and economical vacuumizing device for continuous use on glass jars packed With ground coffee.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuumizing device in which the valve means controlling the vacuumizing of a receptable are not` operative unless the jar or container is in vacuumizing engagement with the receptacle..

AnotherV object of they invention is to provide a vacuumizing and sealing receptacle in which a receptacle for caps is provided which will retain all of the caps in the receptacle, except the cap sealed to the container. f

Another object of the invention is to provide a container supporting means which will support a container in a position to support the vacuumizing and sealing receptacle thereabove.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention,.together with others inherent in the same, are attained bythe device illustrated in the following drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of my invention, throughout which drawings like reference num erals indicate like parts:

Figurelis a plan viewV of a continuous feed vacuumizing and sealing machine constructed in accordance with thisk invention, parts being broken away;

- Fig. 2 is a vertical section ofthe same substantially on broken line 2--2'of Figure 1, parts being shown in itted;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, on a larger scale,of one of the vacuumizing receptacles embodied in the invention, showing the same in vacuumizing relation With respect toa container;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View, on a larger scale, of a slow opening. vacuum control valve embodied in this invention;

Fig. 5 is a'sectional View on broken line-E `of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View, on a larger scale, of a quick opening vacuum release valve embodied in the invention showing the same in operative relation to its actuating means;

Fig, 7 is a detached front elevation of a track ring which controls the vertical movement of the vacuumizing receptacles;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of parts of the mechanism for feeding containers, whichare towbe vacuumized, onto the rotating table of the machine;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary planview of the feeding mechanism shown in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is an operating diagram showing diagrammatically the operation of the machine.

In the drawings,the numerals 9, ,I0 and I I desvelevation and other parts being omi CII iso

ignate upright xed frame members positioned at the sides of the machine and extending upwardly to a location above the operatingparts of the machine. The top ends of the upright frame members 9, Ill and II are rigidly interconnectedby transverse frame members I2, I3 and I3.

In the present disclosure, I have utilized the` transverse frame member I2 as a vacuum confduit. This frame ymember |`2 is connected by ya T type tting I1 Ywith a vacuum pipe IB-wlhioh lmay extend to, and be connected with, anysuitable source, not shown,v -forthe production of vacuum. The lT type fitting -II`1 also serves as a means for rigidly connecting the "transverse frame member I2 with the upright frame member I6. The frame `members I6, I4 andil3 may be plugged las at "I9 or any other -suitable means may be provided to seal the lframe members so that there will be no loss of vacuum dueto the incidental connection `'of the vacuum conduits with the frame members.

A track ring 29, :of fchannel shaped cross section, is fixedly supported lbythe truss member II5 and by upright supports v2| which extend `from the frame members .I2 and I3 directly down tothe track ring 26. -A cam member 22 is Vlixedly supported below the track ring 29. 'The supporting means for the cam member 22 comprises supporting members 23 extendingupwardly from the cam member v22 and secured to a ring membei` 24. The ring member '24 vis supported fromthe track ring 29 by spoke likemembers 5,

A rotatably mounted horizontal table 6 is provided below the cam member'22. This tablehas a plurality of counter-sunk vrecesses 1 in its top surface extending lfrom the periphery inwardly. These recesses 21 :are provided for the reception of containers '49 which vare to be vacuumized The table 26 is secured, as by a hub member V28, to an upright rotatable post 29. l The :lower end porn tion of the post 29 is secured to a shaft 3D. VThe shaft 3U extends downwardly through 'a housing 3| and is provided below said housing '3| with a thrust bearing means 32'supported on a Xed bearing support :33. A worm wheel 34 yis secured to th'e shaft 36 and positioned 'within the housing 3l. Aworm '35 on a shaft 36 meshes with the worm wheel 34. The shaft 36 has a relatively large belt pulley 31 lsecured thereto.`

A belt 38 connects the belt pulley 31 with a smaller `belt pulley 39 on theshaft of a .motor 4I). This illustrates a relatively slow speed drive for the post -2'9 land table 26. 'In this'drive the speed is reduced, first, through the belt pulleys 31-39 Vand belt 38 and, second, through the worm drive 35-34. lThe thrust bearing 32 forms a support for th shaft 39 and post 2-9 and may help'to support the table 26. The table 26 is further supported by rollers 4I, mounted on the under side-of the table Aand rolling on a circular track 42. The circular track 42 is supported from the frame members 9, lo and Il `by brackets yis.

\ The post `29 projects above the table 26 and has a cap member '44 iixedly secured to the upper end portion thereof. lThe vacuum pipe I5 extends downwardly into the cap 44 and contributes to the mechanical stability vof the machine by All of the frame members 9 to I3, inclusive and I3"V may]Y helping to support the post 29 in correct alignment. A pac-king gland 45 .is provided in the upper portion of the cap 44 around the pipe I6 to prevent air leakage when a vacuum is exerted within the cap 44. The post 29 is of tubular construction and the upper end portion of said post 4s'erve'sas a `part of the vacuum conduit means. A

lvacuum manifold 46 encircles the upper portion .of ,post 29 .and communicates with the interior ofsa'id post .29 through ports 41. This vacuum A.manifold -46 may be welded or brazed to the post 2.9 to form a vacuum tight connection. Vacuum :seal means 48 Vmay be provided in the tubular post 29 below the ports 41.

'The drawings show an eight station machine in which vthe table P26 is provided with eight of the recesses for the #reception of containers to be vacuumized and vacuumizing means is provided at each of these stations. Obviously, the machine may be constructed with more or .less stations, as

ldesired.

An upright guide member v5I] is /xedly secured to `the table 26 fat the Ilocation of each station.

These guide members 59, eight in'nurnber, are positioned a Vshort distance inwardly from the recesses 21, in substantial alignment with the outer circumferential .portion of lthe track ring 20, and are spaced at equal distances from each other around the table. These guide members 5I] are preferably of channel shaped 'cross section', Vertically movable slide 'members 5I are supported 'and guided within the :guide members 50. Hold- -ing members 52 retain the slide members 5I in the .guide members 50. The upper ends of the slide members 5I project above thetop-end portions yof the guide members 50 and have rollers 53 lrotatably mounted thereon. The :axis of the rollers 53 are at -right angles to the slide memfbers 5I .and said rollers are operatively positioned to run between the upper flange 54 and the lower flange 55 of the :track ring 20. The diameter of the rollers 53 is substantially less than the distance between-the upper :and lower flanges 54 and of the track ring 20. The lrollers 53 may operate in engagement with either one of these anges 54 or 55, depending on the 'condition under which the station -isl operating, as hereinafter described.

Each slide 5I is rigidly secured by brackets 56 to a vacuumizingand sealing receptacle 51. Each vacuumizing and sealing receptacle 51, see Fig. 3, is provided with a cylindrical lower portion 58 having a sealing rring 59 of rubber or like material supported thereby. The sealing ring 59 is' Vadapted to engage the shouldered neck portion of a glass container 49 and make a vacuum tight :seal with said container when the vacuumizing rality of caps 62 to'be applied to and sealed onto 1 the cap receiving portions surrounding the open top ends of the containers. Each of the caps 62 is provided with a rubber sealing 'ring 63 for sealing contact with the cap receiving portion of a container. A -plurality of these caps A62, positioned one upon another, are inserted into the vacuumizing and sealingreceptacle from lthe bottom thereof. The caps 62 within the receptacle 51 are supported by springs 64 which have V shaped portions 465 on which the lowermost cap 52 rests. Perforations 65' are provided in the V shaped portions 65 toaiford a better engagement between the V shaped portions 65 and the edges of the caps. The lower end portions 66 of the springs 64 are inclined outWardly-'to facilitate reception of the caps 62 and toform guiding and positioning meansfor the containers relative to the vacuumizing receptacles.V The lower end portionA of the receptacle 51 extends into the cylindrical portion 58.` 'I'he springs 64 are positioned in notches 61 in the lower end portion of the receptacle 51. When' a vacuumizing and sealing receptacle is lowered over the upper end portion of a container 41, the lowermostlcap 62 will rest squarely on the topfof said container in a position for sealing.

The vacuumV controlvalves 6l, more clearly shown in Fig. 4, each comprises a valve housing having a chamber 68 which communicates with a iiexible conduit or hose'10. Each hose 10 is communicatively connected with the vacuum manifold 46. The valve chamber 68 further communicates through a cylindrical passageway 1i with the interior of the vacuumizing and sealing receptacle 51. A valve 12 on a Valve stem 13 is operatively disposed'within the chamber S8. The valve 12 is urged into engagement with a valve seat 14 by a spring `15 and maybe lretracted away from said valve seat by a cam operated lever 16 positioned on the exterior of the valve. To obtain a slow application of the vacuum as the valve'12 is opened, I provide a valve member 1.1 of slightly'tapered or frustro conical shape operable in the cylindrical passageway.v 1|. This v'alve member 11 Vis rigid'with the valve 12 and the larger end of said valvejmember11 is posi' tioned adjacent said valve12 and is only slightly smaller in diameter than the cylindrical passageway 1l. This aifords'a very restricted annular opening through which vacuum or suction may be exerted when thevalve 12 is only retracted a short distance off Vofthe seat 14. The valve member 11 is tapered slightly toward the outer end thereof, so that the area of the opening through which the vacuum is exerted is increased In the vacuumizing of 'containers filledl with ground or finely divided material, as coffee, the slow and gradually increasing application of this vacuum avoids drawing the material out of the container and insures that substantially all of the air will be drawn out of the interstices between the particles of material and out ofthe container. The valve (stem 13 extends outwardly through cap and packing gland means 19 at the 'end of the valve housing and said valve stem is on the endportion of each valve lever`16 and is adapted to rollon the peripheral portion of the cam`member 22 when a container `to be vacuumized is operatively engaged by the vacuumizing member 51 with whichthe valve is connected.

'The periphery ofthe camV member 22 is provided with a cutaway or inoperative section extending from a drop oi or vacuum cut-off shoulder 86 to a point 81 at which the opening of the vacuum controll valves commences. This inoperative section preferably extends about onefourth of the distance around the cam 22. As considered in a clockwise direction from the point 81m Fig. 2, the periphery of the cam22 is of expanding spiral shape throughout substantially the next 210 degrees to the point 88. From the point 88 on around to the dropoff shoulder 86,

the periphery of this cam may follow the -path of a circulararc described from the axis 'of the machine. 'I'his provides for slowly and gradually opening the vacuum ycontrol valves while the krollers arev moving around the cam fromthe until the rollers again reach the point 81.V

The relief valves 69, each comprises a housing vthreaded toscrew'into the vacuumizingl and lsealing receptacles 51 and provided with a passageway 9B. vA valve member 9| is movable onto and off of a valve'seat 92 and is provided with a rigidly connected guide member 89 movable in the passageway 9c. The valve 9| has a stem 93 connectedby a pin Swith a valve operating lever 95. The lever 95 is fulcrumed on a pivot 96 which is supportedbyl a forked bracket member S1. One endfportion of the lever 95 is guided between the twoparts of another forked bracket S8 and isconnected with a spring 99v which normally urges the valve 9| into closed position. As this valve19i is subjectto the suction within the [vacuumizing and sealing receptacle 51, it will normallyv be held closed by suction-and the spring 99 will1only need to be strong enough to return said valve Slyto closed position after it has been opened. The end ID!! of the lever 95, extending to the left in Fig. 6, is inclined upwardly and is adapted to engage with a relief valveoperating member or trip bar lili which is relatively fixed and extends outwardly'from the track ring 20 into the path of the upwardly inclined ends i700 of the-valve operatinglevers 95. An upwardly inclinedretarding memberk |02 extends outwardly from the trip ba'r lill; The retarding member 102 is positioned so as to beL engaged by the end 106 of the lever '95 after the end l'has passed under the trip bar Hi. 'This retarding member 92 retards the closing of the valve 9|.

The strip bar IUI, see Fig. 2, is positioned so that Vit `will be engaged by the end of the lever immediately after the closing of the vacuum control Valve 6I. This Yrelief valve Gti provides for a quick relief of the vacuum after thencont'ain'er has `been complet-ely vacuumized. This quick relief of the vacuum instantly and positively seats the lowermost cap 62 on the top of the container without permitting a lowering of the vacuum in the container. Even when the cap 62 lhas been bent' orsprung out of shape, so that it doesnot rest squarely on the top of the container, I find that this quick relief of vacuum will seat and seal the bent or sprung cap without appreciable loss of vacuum in thecontainer.

While the vacuumizing and sealing receptacles Y51 and parts connected therewith are traveling through that portion of their Ycycle in which the vacuum is relieved and the vacuum control valve 6|.is closed, said receptacles 51 are raised to permit the removal of containers which have been vacuumized and sealed and the insertionof cohtainers .to be vacuumized and sealed. This corresponds to that portion of the cycle in which the rollers 85 are traversing the distance between the drop-oir shoulder 86 and the .point 81 on the cam 22. For the purpose vof raising the vacuumizing and sealing receptacles 51 during this portion of the cycle, Iprovide in the track member 20 a raised section |05 connected by inclined portions |06 and |01 with the track 20.

The position of the raised track section |05 corresponds approximately tothe. position of the attened cam section between shoulder 86 and point 81.

The containers 49 to be vacuumized are placed inthe machine and removed therefrom while the receptacles 51 are held in raised position. The feeding and removal of thecontain'ers is preferably done by automatic mechanism. 'I'he container feed means herein disclosed comprises a Afeed table |03 positioned at one side of the rotating table 26, Fig. l. The feed table |03 is prefer- .ably arcuately recessed to receive the adjacent Icircular 'edge portion of the rotating table 26. An V-endless traveling conveyor belt I 94 is movably stantially the location where Ythe belt '|04 is tangent to the table 26, provision is made for deecting the containers 49 sidewise and placing them on the continuously rotating table 26. AThis is accomplished by curving a portion ||24 of the outer guard rail |08 inwardly across the top of the belt and by providing a reciprocable feed member ||3 movable transversely of the belt |04. The feed member ||3 has guide means H4 and is `connected with an operating rod ||5 which extends downwardly through a slot I6 in the feed table |03 and thence toward the center of the continuously rotating table 26. A roller |1 is rotatably mounted on a portion of the operating rod H5 disposed beneath the continuously rotating table 26. This roller |1 is positioned to 'belengaged by cam plates ||8 which are secured tothe bottom side of the continuously rotating table 26 4and positioned at an angle so that they will move the roller ||1, together with the operating rod ||5 and feed member H3, toward the center of the continuously rotating table 26 as said cam plates are moved past the roller H1. The cam plates |I-8 are positioned on the table 26 so that they will operate the feedrmember H3 and place a container 49 ineach recess 21 underneath an elevated vacuumizing receptacle 51 as the table 26 rotates. Other cam plates |9 are provided in angular positions on the bottom of the table 26 to engage the roller |1 after it has 'passed 01T of the cam plates ||8 and-move the roller ||1 together with the feed member ||3 into retracted position. Y

A reversely bent flat spring member |20 is -preferably provided for -engagingthe containers 49 `just after they have been placed on the table to traveling belt |04 by which said containers 49v arel Acarried away. The deflector member |2| is posi- Ytioned so that it will be engaged by the containers 49 aftergthe vacuumizing and sealing members .have been lifted clear of the containers 49.

n A Acontainer engaging member |22, preferably Vof rubber, is pivotally mounted on the feed table |03 and' positioned toengage the containers 49 -while tlre vacuumizing receptacles are being lifted. This prevents the containers from being lifted by the vacuumizinggreceptacles as the V- shaped portions 65 of the springs 64 are raised past the ksealed cap onV the upper end of the container. A spring |23 urges the member |22 against `the containers. This aids the ready separation of the lowermost cap from the caps thereabove as such lowermost cap is sealed to the jar by reason'of the vacuum therein and will not be removed by the springs 64. On the other hand caps not 'sealed to the container will be readily retained by the V-shaped portions 65 of the springs 64.

Whenever the sealing ring 59 of one of the vacuumizng receptacles 51 rests on the shoul- -dered neck portion of a container 49, the vacuumizing receptacle 51 will be held in an elevated position. Also the roller 53 will be pressed against the upper flange 54 of the track member 20'and the roller'85 of the vacuum control Valve `will be intheplane of the cam 22 and will engage with the periphery of said cam 22 and open and close the vacuum control Valve 6| as the vacuumizing receptacle is moved around the cam k22. When no lcontainer is present under a vacuumizing receptacle-51 the cam roller 85 of the vacuum control valve carried by said receptacle 51 will travel around in a path below the path of the cam 22, as shown at the left in Figure Y1, and the vacuum control valve will not be opened. Vertical movement, either up or down, of a vacuumizing receptacle 51 by the Vtrack member 20 will always take place when thecam roller 85, which is connected with said receptacle '51, is vbetween the drop off shoulder 86 and the point 81 of the cam 22. As the roller 85 is retracted clear of the periphery of the cam 22 while traveling between cam shoulder 86 and point A81, see Figure l, there can be no interference between any cam roller 85 and the cam 22 Adue to the up and down movement of the Acam roller.

The operation of this vacuumizing and sealing machine may be summarized as follows: The table 26 is driven continuously at a constant speed of approximately one revolution in fourteen sectacle.

uum control valve 6|, which is connected with thatreceptacle, will be elevatedinto an opera# tive position as'respect's the cam 22 andthe vacuum valve will be opened and closed' at the proper time in the cycle. If no container49 is present under a vacuumizing receptacle 51, then the corresponding cam engaging rollerv 58 `will not be elevated but will move around in apath belowthe cam 22, as shown at the left in Fig. 2, and the vacuum control valve 6| will not `be opened. This avoids opening the vacuum conduits to the atmosphere and avoids excessive lowering of the vacuum in the other receptacles, such as would occur if the vacuum conduits were opened directly to the atmosphere.

The diiference between the diameters -of the rollers 531and the distance between the upper and lower track flanges 54 and 55 provides for two. vertical positions for the vacuumizing rreceptacles. receptacles are supported on the containers in sealing relation thereto, with the rollers 53 bearing against the upper track flange 54 andthe tainers but are allowed to drop down by gravityuntil the track rollers 53 roll on the lower track flange 55 and the cam rollers 85 are'below and clear of the cam 22.

At the time any vacuumizing receptacle 51 is moving past the loading plunger H3, said receptacle will be elevated, by the raised section |95 of the track ring 20, high enough to receive a container 49. If, at this time, containersare available on kthe endless -traveling belt |94, a container will be placed on thetable 26 in the recess 21 directly below the vacuumizing recep- The curved guide member ||2 together with the loading plunger I3 will insure the placing ofthe container 49 on the table 26 inY a recess 21. The recess 21 together with a xed stop member |24 insure approximately correct positioning of the container on the moving table 26. The inclined ends 66 of the resilient cap holding members 54 are the nal positioning means Land may shift the container 49 a short distance as they engage the upper end thereof, thus insuring accurate alignment of the container for the purpose of receiving a cap 62. Y

As the vacuumizing receptacle 51 moves away from the loading position, see operating diagram Fig. 10, the roller 53 engages with the downwardly inclined track ring section |01 and the vacuumizing receptacle is loweredinto operative position with the ring 59 resting on the neck portion of the container 49. Immediately after the ring 59 engages and forms an air tight connection with the neck portion ofthe container 49, the cam roller 85 contacts theraised portion S1 of the cam 22 and the vacuum control valve 9| is slightly opened. This permits the air to be exhausted slowly from the container. The vacuum is applied so gradually that the cap, which rests loosely on the mouth of the container, is not displaced and the contents are not drawn outvof the container. In' vacuurnizing granular materials, as ground coffee, it is essential that this vacuum be applied very gradually and slowly for the following reasons:

are easily lifted by the vacuum. (2) The interstices between said particles are numerous and small and are present entirely to the bottom of the container and the air and gases must be First, an upper position in which the (1) The particles of this material are of relatively light weight and` exhausted from .such interstices. (3) Even if a small number of the particles of this material are lifted, they may become lodged between the mouth` of the container and the rubber sealing ring 63 of the' cap and vmay thereby prevent an eicientvacuum'seal. Y

For vthe abovereasons, I construct the cam 22 so that the vacuum control valve will be opened slightly as the `'roller 85 passes over the point 81. From the point 81 the cam 22 expandsgradually around to the point 88. This means that the opening of the vacuum control valve 6| will he gradually. increased through an angle of about 210 degrees and during a period of Vsubstantially eight seconds. From the point 88 on around to the drop `off vshoulder 86 the yperiphery ofthe cam 22 is substantiallyfa circle so that the vac- ,uuml control valveV 6| Awill be held in maximum operi position'withV the vacuum fully applied. I nd that, with'this slow and gradual applic-ation Vofthe vacuum, the contents of the container `will not be disturbed and a maximum vacuum,

as indicated by a vacuum gauge connected with thevacuumizingj receptacle 51 will usually be obtained at about the time the maximum opening of .the vacuum control valve, as indicated on the diagram Fig. '10, occurs. This vacuum is maintained at. a maximum for a further period of timeup to the location of"vacuum cut off to insure thatV theair will substantially all be drawn out of the receptacle 49.

When the cam'roller 85 drops off of the shoul-l der 86, the vacuum controlvalve 6| will be completely and. instantly closed by the` spring v15. Immediately after the closing' of the vacuum control valve 6|, the end |99 of the release valve lever arm 95 will engagethe trip bar |9| and the relatively large valve member 9| willbe snapped open. This provides a quick and substantially instantaneous release of vacuum and aquick increase of pressure on the cap 62, which rests on theY mouth of the vacuumized container 49, Vthus' providing efcient'means for sealing the cap without lossvof vacuum in the container 49.

Shortly after theV opening of the vacuum release valve 6|l,fthe track roller 53 encounters the upward incline |96 of the track member 28 and the vacuumizing receptacle 51 is lifted clear of the container 49. The vacuumizing receptacle 51 then moves on toward the loading position while the vacuumized and sealed container encounters the deflector member 2| and is deected back onto the belt lllllk by which it is carried away.

At the time thevacuumizing receptacle 51 is being lifted clear of a vacuumizedand sealed container- 49, the rubber member |22 engaging the container 49 'holds said container down.

Also, before the lifting of the receptacle 49, the

cap 62 on the container 49 will have been sealed to the top ofthe container 49 by vacuum and, as the receptacle 51 is lifted, the sealed cap on the container will be pulled loose from the next adjacent cap 62 thereabove. This will separate the caps 62 in the event there is any tendency for the caps v to adhere v together. The spring means 64 with the V shaped portions 65 having perforations 66 provides a resilient means capable of retaining all caps'62 except the cap which is sealed to the container 49, thus insuring a separation Vofthe caps. e Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions, and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment. i f

` I claim:

1. In a devicefor vacuumizing and sealing containers, a vacuumizing and sealing receptacle movable in a continuous path and movable into and out of vacuumizing position with respect to a container; a vacuum control valve carried by and movable with said receptacle and communicatively connected therewith; vacuumizing means connected with said valve; and valve operating cam means operatively positioned in the said continuous path of said valve when said receptacle is in vacuumizing position relative to the container and. out of the said continuous path of said valve when said receptacle is in nonvacuumizing position relative to the container.-

2. In a device for vacuumizing and sealing containers, a vacuumizing and sealing receptacle movable horizontally in a continuous path and movable vertically into andout of vacuumizing engagement'with a container while traveling in said horizontal path; valve means carried by and movable horizontally and vertically with said receptacle and operatively connected with said receptacle; vacuumizing means operatively connected with said valve means; means vertically positioning said receptacle and valve in a predetermined horizontal path; and valvev operating means positioned in the said predetermined horizontal path of the valve means.

3. In a device for vacuumizing and sealing containers, a vacuumizing and sealing receptacle movable horizontally in a continuous path and movable vertically into and out of vacuumizing engagement with a container while traveling in said horizontal path; valve means carried by and movable horizontally and vertically with said receptacle and operatively connected with said receptacle; vacuumizing means operatively connected with said valve means; horizontally movable container supporting means operatively positioning a container to vertically support said receptacle and valve in an upper Y horizontal path; and valve operating means positioned in the upper horizontal path of the valve means.

4. In a device for vacuumizing and sealingV valve means; means vertically positioning saidreceptacle and said cam engaging meansy in a predetermined horizontal path; and stationary cam means positioned in the path of travel of said cam engagingmeans and having a relatively low pitch for relatively slowly opening said valve means.

K 5. In a device for vacuumizing and sealing containers, a vacuumizing and sealing receptacle; means carried by said receptacle providing an air tight connection with a container to be vacuumized; and resilient cap supporting means within said receptacle supporting a plurality of caps with the lowermost cap positioned to operatively `engage with the top end of a container receivedwithin said receptacle, said cap supporting means permitting withdrawal of the lowermost cap with the containerand retaining the balance of the caps in the receptacle.

6. In a device for vacuumizing and sealing containers, a cap receptacle receiving a plurality of caps in adjacent superposed relation; means sealable by vacuum with the underside of the lowermost cap in the receptacle while the caps are in said adjacent superposed relation; cap retaining meansI mechanically and resiliently engaging the edges 'of the caps in the receptacle with a pressure substantially less than that suiiicient to release 'said means sealable by vacuum from the lowermost` cap.; and means providing relative movement between the said means sealable by vacuum with the lowermost cap and the capl retaining means, whereby the lowermost cap in the receptacle is held by said means sealable by vacuum and the caps thereabove are retained by the cap retaining means and separation of,l the lowermost cap from those directly thereabove occurs with said relative movement between said means.V

` 7. In a device for vacuumizing and sealing containers, a vacuumizing and sealing receptacle carrying therein a plurality of caps in adjacent superposed relation; means sealable by vacuum with the underside of the lowermost cap in the receptacle while the caps are in said adjacent superposed relation;V cap retaining means mechanically and resiliently engaging the edges of the caps in the receptacle with a pressure substantially less than that sufcient to release-said means sealable by vacuum from the lowermost cap; and means providing relative movement between the said means sealable by vacuum with the lowermost cap and theY cap retaining means, whereby the lowermost cap in the receptacle is held by said means sealable by vacuum and the caps thereabove are retained by the cap retaining means and separation of the lowermost cap from those directly thereabove occurs with said relative movement between said means.

8. Ina device for vacuumizing and sealing containers, container supporting means; a vertically movably mounted vacuumizing land sealing receptacle movable into and out of operative vacuumizing position relative to the container; means carried by said receptacle providing an air tight connection with a container to be vacuumized and supporting said receptacle on the container; a track member providing upper and lower spaced apartanges; a roller memberconnected with said receptacle and operatively positioned between said flanges, the diameter of said roller being less thanV the distance between said track iiangesproviding an elevated position for said receptacle with the roller in operative engagement with the upper track flange when the receptacle is supported by a container and a lowered positionifor said receptacle with the roller in operative engagement with said lower track iiange, when the receptacle is unsupported by a container; vacuumizing means connected with the receptacle; valve operating meansp valve means between said vacuumizing means and said receptacle; and' valve control means vertically movable with said container operatively engaging said valve operating means in said elevated position and disengaged from said valve operating means in'said lowered position.

JOSEPH W. UREN. 

